An apex student body Raphei Katamnao Long (RKL) in Ukhrul district of Manipur on Wednesday urged the state Education minister to implement biometric attendance for government teachers in every school.
RKL, which is a conglomerate of student unions from 45 villages in north of Ukhrul district under Chingai assembly constituency, wrote to the Education minister, following reports of inadequate teaching staff in government schools published by the Imphal Free Press on March 31, 2022.
The letter stated that RKL takes serious note of Notification vide No AO/183/RTE/2022-DE (S) issued by the government of Manipur, Directorate of Education (S).
As all the schools have started their academic session, RKL urged the minister to look into the issues concerning “government negligence, lack of infrastructure amenities, lack of teachers and teachers negligence.”
RKL raised concerns on the deplorable condition of the education system in the district. The pandemic has further worsened the pathetic conditions of the schools, it stated. In these past two years, schools were closed and online education was not implemented, it mentioned. Moreover, many families and villages could not have access to online classes due to lack of proper electricity, network etc., it added.
RKL stated, “As a student body, we are very much concerned about the poor school infrastructure and the lack of basic facilities such as toilets and water supply.”
It further stated that there are “only few teachers in the school” as many of them failed to diligently take up their duties for want of adequate teacher quarters, teachers commitment and frequent transfer of teachers without completing even a year.
RKL further pointed out that the rampant malpractices such as proxy, substitution of teachers by qualified employed teachers and transferring of teachers on the pretext of ‘utilisation’ strategy which left no teachers in some schools but enjoying salary from the particular village, are the main reasons for the failure of the education system.
The education system in the hill districts will collapse if necessary action is not taken at the right time, it further stated, adding, the collapse of education is the collapse of the nation. “We want students to enjoy equal opportunities to gain quality education. In the light of this backdrop, we request the Education minister to implement ‘Biometric Attendance’ for teachers in the schools for a reality check at the earliest so that government schools function properly,” it added.
